Dental equipment support



Oct. 26, 1926. 1,604,195

0. H. PIEPER ET AL DENTAL EQUIPMENT SUPPORT Filed NOV. 21, 1922 INYENTORS Oscar V-I CCJGT ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 26, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OSCAR H. PIEPER AND ALII-IONSE F. PIEPER, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

DENTAL EQUIPMENT SUPPORT.

Applieation filed November 21, 1922. Serial No. 602,413.

This invention relates to dental apparatus, and more particularly to dental equipment units of the variety disclosed, for example, in Letters Patent No. 1,376,356, granted to us jointly April 26, 1921, for unitary dental apparatus, the chief object of the invention being to provide an equipment support of this variety supplied with efficient means by which a hand instrument normally carried in retracted relation by the support when not in use may be temporarily held in extended relation with the support within convenient reach of the dentist adjacent the point of use. To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts all as will hereinafter be more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an equipment support embodying the present invention;

- Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of a part shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the same;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 4* a of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 5---5 of Figure 4, and r Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 66 of Figure l.

Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

The embodiment of the invention at present preferred and disclosed herein by way of illustration comprises a hollow column or stand 10 from which extend laterally a motor arm 11 and a cuspidor arm 12. At the top of the column is a rearwardly offset wall 13 provided with a, plurality of spring clips 14; of any suitable construction for holding a plurality of hand instruments, such as are commonly employed in apparatus of this character, and including in the present instance, from left to right, a hot air syringe, cautery, a miscellaneous instrument holder, an examination lamp and an air nozzle, the latter being extended from the columnin use as hereafter described. These instruments have extensible conductors 15 attached thereto and passed through openings in the top of the column for connection within the latter with electrical and fluid supply means controlled by devices on the front of the column. The conductors 15 are preferably provided with gravity or spring means for yieldably retracting the same within the column, the construction thus far described being fully disclosed in the said Letters Patent. 1

The equipment support is usually located atthe .side of the dental chair opposite the position occupied by the dentist who reaches for the various hand instruments carried at the top of the column and extends the same to the point of use. As a given operation frequently accomplished largely by the use of some one or two of the instruments and it is frequently desirable in operating with a given instrument to release the same temporarily and take it up again for use, the present invention provides means for holding one or more instruments within convenient reach adjacent the point of use, thereby obviating repeated reaching for such instruments at their holders on the column. To this end. the motor arm 11 is in the present instance utilized as a pivotal support for a horizontally extending arm 16 on the outer end of which is pivotally supported one end 17 of a bracket or arm 18 thus arranged to swing in a horizontal plane above arm 16. Arm 18 preferably has the form shown in detail in Figures 2 and 3, and it is apparent from this construction that the outer or free end 19 of the arm may be pivotally swung toward or from the column and into convenient proximity with'the point at which the dentist is operating. The pivotal connection between arms 16 and 18 may if desired be given sufficient frictional resistance by any well known means to yieldably retain arm 18 in a given position of adjustment.

Arm 18 is equipped adjacent its free end with holding means for one or more of the hand instruments so that the latter when in use may be temporarily supported on arm 18 within convenient reach. Such holding means comprises in the present instance a strip of resilient metal formed into a clip 2-0 having the shape shown in Figure 1. The clip comprises a base portion 21 adapted to be pivotally seated on a horizontal face 22 formed on the upper side of arm 18 on which face the clip is pivotally secured as by means of a screw 23. A washer 24 is preferably interposed between the clip and the head of the screw and is provided with a downwardly turned finger 25 extending through an arcuate slot 26 in the clip base and into a. depression in the arm, by which means the clip is effectively supported for pivotal movement limited by stops formed by the ends of slot 26. The clip extends upwardly at each side of its base and is bent upon itself at one side as at 27 to form a resilient end portion 28 somewhat curved as shown to conform with the handle of the 1nstrument which is inserted between this end 28 and an opposing end 29 curved as shown to readily guide the instrument into engagei'nentwiththe clip. While two such clips are shown in the present instance, the number may be varied, of course, as desired. It is apparent that any of theinstruments carried at the top .of the column may be extended from the latter for use and temporarily secured in such, extended relation by insertion in one of the clips 20 which swings pivotally on its base to conform with the direction of extent of the instrument handle. The clip is efliciently shaped to facilitate the attachmentand detachment of an instrument and to securely hold the same.

Arm 18 is preferably formed intermediate its ends with a bearing 30 in which is rotatably supported a frame or spider 31 carrying a tray 32 for loose instruments, supplies and other equipment. A large proportion of the equipment with which the dentist works may therefore be conveniently concentrated in small space on the arm 18 and conveniently brought by adjustment of the latter adjacent the point of operation.'

While the present improvement is illustrated in this instance as embodied in conjunction with the floor column or stand described, it is obvious that it is capable of application also to other stands or to wall panels or other equipment supports to increase the efficiency and convenience of such apparatus.

\Ve claim as our invention:

1. A support for dental equipment'comprising a hand instrument, an extensible conductor connecting said instrument with said,

support on which said instrument is normally supported in retracted relation, and a holder adjustably carried by the support for temporarily holding said instrument in extended relation adjacent the point of use.

A support for dental equipment com prising a hand instrument, an extensible conductor connecting said instrument with said support, a holder on the support for holding said instrument in retracted relation when not in use, and a bracket movably carried by the support for temporarily holding said instrument in extended relation adjacent the point of use.

3. A support for dental equipment comprising a hand instrument, an extensible conductor connecting said instrument with said support on which said instrument is normally supported in retracted relation, and a bracket arm pivoted on the support for movement toward and from the same and provided with means for holding said instrument in extended relation adjacent the point of use.

4:. A sup ort for dental equipment comprising a p urality of clips for holding instruments when not in use, an arm adjustably carried by said support, and a clip on said arm for temporarily holding one ofs'aid instruments adjacent the point of use of the same.

5. A support for dental equipment comprising a plurality of clips for holding instruments when not in use, an arm pivot-ally carried by said support for movementto: ward and from the same, and a plurality of clips on said arm for temporarily holding one or more of said instruments adjacent the point of use.

6. A support for dental equipment comprising a plurality of clips for holding instruments when not in use, an arm pivotally carried by said support for movement toward and from the same, an instrument tray on said arm, and a clip on said arm for temporarily holding one of said instruments adjacent the point of use.

7.- A support for dental equipment comprising a plurality of hand instruments, ex- 7 tensible conductors connecting said instruments. with said support on which said instruments are normally supported in retract ed relation, and an arm pivoted on the support and provided with clip means for temporarily holding one or more of said instruments adjacent the point of use. p

8; A support for dental equipment comprising a plurality of hand instruments, extensible conductors connecting said instruments with said support on which said in struments are normally supported in retracted relation, an arm having one end fpivotally carried by said support, an instrument tray on said arm intermediate its ends, and clip means adjacent the free end of said arm for supporting one or more of said instruments in extended relation adjacent the point of use.

9. A support for dental equipment comprising a plurality of hand instruments, extensible conductors connecting said instru ments with said support on which said instruments are normally supported in retracted relation, arm means on said support, an arm pivoted at one end on said arm means, an mstrument tray on said pivoted arm, and a plurality of spring clips on said pivoted arm for temporarily holding one or more of porarily holding one of said instruments in said instruments in extended relation adjaspaced relation with the support and ad- 10 cent the point of use. jaoent the point of use, and stop means for 10. A support for dental equipment comlimiting the pivotal movement of said (lip on prising a plurality of clips for holding insaid arm.

struments when not in use, an arm adjustably carried by said support, a spring OSCAR H. PIEPER.

clip pivotally supported on said arm for tem- ALPHONSE F. PIEPER. 

